Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-01-07
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY,
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.


For many years agriculture has been
compelled to contribute largely TO Ia
vore,f interests without an equivalent
return; farmers are paying taxes for
others better able to pay them than they
are. By the operations of pools and
schemes favored with monOpolies he is
legally "sheared" Of the products OF tile
soil. Agriculture pays much the largest
share of public Indebtedness, local and
national. and after paying the numer-
GUS demands upon it there is frequently
no profit left as interest Oh the invest
ment, often not even paying for the la
Dor. The remedy is thorough organi-
cation by farmers.
The first lesson candidate learns as
he enters a Grange meeting for the first
time, is, "An honest man Is the noolest
work OF God" We need honest men iE
these DAYS, and we need them very bad.
A constantly growing procession is on
the road TO Canada. Will not the'teach-
ings of the Grange, at least, help; not
alone as prevention, but as cure?
The regular annual meeting OF the
Colorado State Grange commences on
the second Tuesday in January. The
State Oranges OF New York and Illinois
commence on the third Tuesday of the
same month.
At the meeting Of the Connecticut
State Grange at Hartford this month the
morning and afternoon sessions Of the
second day were "open to the public,
and a well arranged program was ear
ried out, led off by the Lecturer, j. b.
Olcott. Each Grange in the State con-
tributed something. either in the way
of a short address or carefully-prepared
paper, and all interspersed with music
and songs. A portion Of the third days
session was devoted 10 a discussion of
the Tariff as it relates to the farmers Of
Connecticut, with good takers on both
sides az invited guests to speak.
1.-The Indifference of those engaged In
agriculture and the otker industrial
pursuits to matters OF legislation and
public affairs has, In other times and In
other countries, been the primary cause
of class legislation. which has degraded
labor and robbed it OF its just reward,
built up moneyed aristocracy and mo-
nopolie. which own and control not only
the wealth of the country, but the Gov
eminent itself Such condition OF
affairs can only be avsrted in this eoun
try by educating the wealth-producing
cla.se. to understand their privileges,
and in the full exercise of their political
rights to demand fairer representation
IL. tho legislative departments OF the
Government and equal protection to
their educating and elsvating the agrl-
cultural classes Of this country, and to
save them from the impending fate that
has befallen the agrculturist of tho old
world, was our Order created. J.
Voodman, Michigan, Past Master Of the
National Grange.
Question for discussion by Subordl-
nate Grange, "What are the causes OF
the hard times to the farmers and how
can we best meet them?"
The Grange hall Of Lebanon Grange,
Connecticut, is handsome building
4Ox6O feet, occupying the finest site in
the town, contains upon the first floor
library anG reading room with quite
collection Of valuable books, and in the
rear of this large and convenient store
room. The second floor is occupied by
the hall and ante-rooms, all finished in
hard wood with inside blinds OF the
same material. The hall will comforta-
bly, seat four hundred persons. This
Grange has nearly two hundred MEM
bers.
C. l.. Whitney, Of Michigan, has
been lately doing some effective Grange
work in Nebraska, organizing new
Oranges and recognizing old ones. He
i. out Officially" and under direction
of the Executive Committee Of the Ma
tional Grange.
"rhere is tide i'm the affairs Of men,
which, if taken at the flood, leads on TO
fortune" This is true Of nations as we'll
as of individuals. There are times in
battle when everything depends on the
action of the moment. There are times
In the life Of nations when the same Is
true. The student Of political science
may easily see that We have reached
point where almost everything depends
on the action Of the next few years.
Some one has said that Give hundred
years of time in the process of the worlds
salvation may depend on the next
twenty years Of the United States his
tory" There are points in history where
all lines seem to converge, and then
from which they seem again to raGiate.